posted
Like the majority of you here, I'm just so sick of being sick.
I've been having hypoglycemic attacks at least monthly for two years now--the longest I've gone without one in that time is about two months. I'd had Lyme about 18 months when they started. I also had my gallbladder removed about six months before they started.
I'm not currently taking any antibiotics, but I'm on cat's claw and eleuthero and was actually having some pretty good days.
This past week, however, I got overtired--had an office function mid-week at which I had to be on my feet for a few hours straight. Big mistake, woke up with a hypoglycemic attack at 4:30 the next morning.
The next night, I had trouble sleeping--I was overtired.
Next day I felt pretty good, considering the lack of sleep. However, at 1:30 yesterday morning, I had one of the worst hypoglycemic attacks I've ever had. Heart pounding, uncontrollable shaking, nausea--pretty bad. It took two doses of juice to get my sugar back up.
I know about having a protein snack before I go to bed, and I do that every night.
Felt awful all day yesterday--weak, shaky, muscles aching, etc. Slept well last night, but I still feel pretty awful today--blood sugar was 68 when I got up.
I know the herbs lower my blood sugar, but I've been careful to ramp up slowly, and like I said above, was doing pretty well.
I've tied the attacks to a couple of things. I've had them when I haven't had enough protein for dinner, and I've had them when I have overexerted myself (e.g. on a day when I actually had enough energy to get out of the house and do something).
However, one thing I've notice is that I'm almost guaranteed to have a hypoglycemic attack somewhere between the 21st and 28th of the month each month. I'm post-menopausal, but I'm wondering if the low blood sugar is somehow hormone-related.
I went through menopause in my early 40's (I'm in my late 40's now). I still get hot flashes, and in fact I had a day earlier this week (before the hypo attacks) where I must have had 20 hot flashes during the day--many more than usual for me.
Earlier this year I had blood tests for hormone levels (progesterone and estrogen), and they were in the normal range for a post-menopausal woman (tests were done early in the month).
However, in doing some research yesterday, I found where low progesterone can cause low blood sugar. So, I'm wondering if my hormones are fluctuating and causing (or at least contributing to) the problem.
So far the doctors haven't been able to help me much--I've figured out everything I know (including the fact that the middle of the night attacks are hypoglycemia) with help from the wonderful people here and other internet searches.
Just wondering whether anyone here has any ideas, suggestions, similar experience, etc. Any help at all would be very much appreciated.
Posts: 227 | From Northeast | Registered: Mar 2010
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I also have these episodes but mine comes pretty much everyday when I wake up! I also have other issues like low blood volume and such.
Up until a few days ago I wasn't sure if it was Hypoglacemia. But I had done a blood test recently and I had really low sugar (46) before eating!
The doc wants me to check my sugar at home before breakfast and after eating but I'm pretty sure it's Hypoglacemia.
I didn't know about the Progesterone connection but I tested low on that as well as other hormones, except the Adrenals are ok.
The protein snack before bed is great. Also with Hypoglacemia, I think it has to do with our liver since the liver is the organ that stores sugar for later use, so if you can maybe get your liver working better that might help.
My liver is not detoxing well and I'm trying to fix that and I'm sure all the toxins and inflamation from Lyme and co infections is just wrecking havoc on our system. Maybe since you don't have the gull bladder that is making things worse.
Have you looked into liver function?
Posts: 247 | From Ca | Registered: Feb 2007
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posted
Hi chootik (love that name), thanks for the response.
Wow, 46 is pretty low--I'm surprised you made it to the lab to get the blood drawn.
I haven't looked into liver function, but I've had routine liver function blood tests over the two years that I've had the problem, and everything is always okay.
Posts: 227 | From Northeast | Registered: Mar 2010
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posted
I'm not an expert, but are you eating enough fat along with enough protein?
Fat helps stablize blood sugar. Avacado, olive oil, butter or ghee, coconut oil, and macadamia nut oil are all excellent. Do you eat nuts?
-------------------- "To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art" - LaRochefoucauld
Lyme neuro symptoms for 20+ years. Infected in Maryland. Diagnosed with Lyme Jan 2011. (previously diagnosed with CFS, Fibro, peripheral neuropathy) Posts: 261 | From Colorado | Registered: Oct 2010
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BoxerMom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25251
posted
I see this thread is from a couple of weeks ago, but it looks like some people are still interested.
These hypoglycemic attacks are classic Babesia symptoms. The sweating, as well.
Malaria scavenges glucose from the bloodstream when it reproduces. I'm sure Babesia does the same. And our microbes do replicate on schedules, so you could have figured out their calendar.
I had terrible blood sugar regulation until I treated my Babesia.
Since you're not on abx, but taking herbs, you could do a trial run of Artemisinin to see if you herx. If you do, you should consider antimalarials. Babesia can become resistant to Artemisinin alone.
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